Director - Testing, Inspection and Certification
About The Position
Fireclay Partners is a veteran owned middle market M&A and buy side advisory firm based in Kansas City. We serve private equity sponsors and family-owned businesses on platform sourcing, bolt on acquisitions, and select sell side mandates. Our model pairs investment banking execution with senior operating expertise, and we bring in industry advisors with deep domain experience to support deal sourcing, due diligence, and sponsor engagement. We are building out a bench of senior operators with deep laboratory, field services, and platform level experience in testing, inspection, certification and compliance. This is a per engagement consulting role, not full-time employment. You will partner with the Fireclay team on specific deals where your domain expertise creates value, with engagements typically running three to twelve months on a deal specific basis. We are actively building bench depth across the following subsectors within this role: • Certification bodies and management systems certification • Environmental and analytical laboratories • Food safety, pharmaceutical and life sciences testing • Construction materials testing, geotechnical and infrastructure • Nondestructive testing and industrial asset integrity • Industrial hygiene, fire safety and building compliance • Calibration, metrology and product testing
Requirements
- Laboratory Director, General Manager, VP Operations, Division President, COO, or CEO at a testing, inspection or certification business, or Head of Corporate Development at a sector consolidator
- Fifteen years or more in the sector across multiple accredited locations, service lines, or end markets
- Working command of the accreditation environment, including ISO 17025, 17020 or 17065, and the state and federal programs that govern your subsector
- Direct experience with the operating dynamics that drive value in this sector, including utilization, turnaround time, scope expansion, multi-site integration, and technical staff retention
- Familiarity with the ownership structures common to independent firms in this market, including ESOPs and small business and disadvantaged business certifications, and how each affects a transaction
- Existing network of relationships with founders, family owners, senior executives, and PE professionals across your subsector
- Comfort representing Fireclay professionally to PE sponsors, strategic acquirers, and target company management
- Discretion when handling nonpublic information and competitive intelligence
- Willingness to work on a flexible per engagement basis without fixed hours or commitments
Responsibilities
- Provide market intelligence on bolt on targets, competitive landscape, and valuation context within your subsector
- Make introductions to founders, family owners, and senior executives in your existing network
- Review confidential information memoranda and management presentations for sector specific operating fit and risk
- Assess the durability of a target's accreditation scope, technical staffing, and regulatory position as part of diligence
- Participate in PE sponsor and strategic acquirer pitches when your subsector and operating background are relevant
- Provide operational due diligence input on target companies
- Advise the Fireclay team on positioning and messaging for sponsor outreach and sourcing campaigns
Benefits
- 1099 independent contractor structure
- Per deal success fees on closed engagements where you contribute meaningfully
- Optional retainer for active sourcing assignments
- Equity participation available on select strategic engagements
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
